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In this Photoshop tutorial we will learn how to create striking visual effects solely in Photoshop. Throughout these lessons we will look at different steps that will allow you to create your own vibrant effects and apply them to photos to create a work of art. By the end of this tutorial you will have a solid understanding of composition placement and lighting knowledge, as well as how to create visual effects, retouch them, and manipulate them.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Learn how to create a fantasy-inspired photo-manipulation of two warriors: a werewolf wielding a burning sword and a human with a regular longsword. You will learn how to turn a human into a werewolf, create a flaming sword using a few brush strokes, and how to use adjustment layers to alter the color of the image.

Preview of Final Results

Download the PSD

How to Create a Werewolf Warrior Wielding a Flaming Sword in Photoshop

Step 1: Create a New Image File

We will start by creating a new image file, go to the Menu bar and click File > New, and then input the following values on their respective fields:

Presets: International Paper

Size: C6

Width: 114 mm

Height: 162 mm

Resolution: 300 pixels/inch

Color Mode: RGB Color; 8 bit

Background Contents: White

Step 2: Create the Background

In this step, we will be creating the land for our background. To start, let's open the stock image: "Stock 5 by UmbraDeNoapte Stock. Next, activate the Move tool by pressing V on your keyboard; left-click the image while the Move tool (V) is activated and then drag that image to our canvas.
Move and position it in this manner:

Once you've done that, rename the layer you had just created/moved to "Background". To rename a layer, simply double-click on the words: "layer 1" (which is our layer - "Stock 5") to prompt a text box to appear. Once that appears, you may now rename the layer.
See sample below:

Next, we will then resize the layer to fit our canvas. To do that, make sure that the "Background" layer is active and then simply press Ctrl/Cmd + T to activate the Transform tool. Once the Transform tool is activated, resize the image as shown below:

The result of that should be similar to this:

Next, we are going to make the further part of the background a little foggy. To start the process, we would need to duplicate the "Background" layer by pressing Ctrl/Cmd + J. After doing that you'd notice that the layer has been duplicated because it says "Background Copy".
Now, activate the Magnetic Lasso Tool (L) because we would need to select the region we plan to create fog.

Now that you have it activated, create a selection area around the region shown below:

Once the selection area is complete, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and then set the following:

Radius: 12 pixels

Once you hit OK, change the "Background copy" layer's Opacity to 70%.

Changing the Opacity of this blurred-duplicated layer will result to something like this:

After that, go to Filter > Blur > Lens Blur and input the following:

Once you hit OK, change this layer's Fill to 55% (Note: This is still the same layer that we've used the Magnetic Lasso Tool on, duplicated and Gaussian Blurred)

Now, the result of that would be like this:

Take note of that very obvious blur. Does it look nice? I don't think so, so what do we do? We erase it. Activate your Eraser tool (E) and then set the following:

Brush size: 250px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 100%

Flow: 100%

Erase the area shown below (make sure you select the duplicated layer before proceeding or else you'll be erasing the original layer).

The result:

Step 3: Add dramatic light to the Background

In this step, we will be using the Brush tool (B) to create light and darkness on our background.
To start, create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) above the "Background copy" layer (To do that, simply click on the "Background copy" layer and then press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N and a new layer will be automatically be on top of the selected layer).
Now that you have a new layer, rename this layer to "Light 1".
Activate the Brush tool (B) but before we start, make sure that the active Brushes are the default brushes. The default Photoshop brushes are shown on the image below, if that's not what you see, then follow the instructions below:

Right click the canvas while a layer is selected and while the Brush tool (B) is activated and then click on the button highlighted below:

Then click on "Reset Brushes" from the contextual menu.

Now, that that is done input the following settings for our Brush tool (B):

Brush size: 1100px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 25%

Flow: 100%

#: ffffff

Note: The "#" means the color of the brush.ffffff is the color white, but to make sure that you will be using that brush color follow the steps below:

After clicking the Foreground tool, the Color Picker box would open. Once open, input the following on the # space:

#: ffffff

Now, let's start painting in the light:

The result:

Next, create a new layer again (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Light 2".
Activate the Brush tool (B) next and input the following:

Brush size: 700px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 18%

Flow: 100%

#: ffffff

Then, paint:

The result of that should be similar to this:

Create another layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Light 3".
Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

Brush size: 700px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 8%

Flow: 100%

#: ffffff

The result:

Next, we will darken some parts of the photo to make it look more dramatic. Create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Darken 1".
Activate the Brush tool (B) and then input the following:

Brush size: 900px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 25%

Flow: 100%

#: 000000

Let's paint here:

The result should be similar to this:

Create a new layer once again (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Darken 2".
Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

Brush size: 900px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 25%

Flow: 100%

#: 000000

The result of that should be similar to this:

Now let's enhance the exposure of the image. To do that, first click on the "Create New Fill/Adjustment layer" button.

Once up, click on "Exposure".

When the Exposure box opens, input the following:

Exposure: 0.44

Offset: -0.0098

Gamma Correction: 1.10

The result of that should be similar to this:

Step 4: Create the Warriors

Now, we will be creating the warriors who are battling for their life in this dark forest. To start, open the stock image: "Knights" by jmjvicente. Once open, activate the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) and create a selection area around these warriors.

Once you've made the selection area, activate the Move tool (V) and drag those warriors to our canvas.
Position them as shown below:

Next, rename this layer to "Warriors".
After that, we would need to blend this layer's color to the background. We would need to make give them a bluish color - to do that, go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance.
Once it opens, input the following:

Color Levels: -56, 0, 0

Tone Balance: Midtones

Preserve Luminosity: Checked

Next, open the Color Balance box once again and input the following:

Color Levels: 0, 0, 24

Tone Balance: Shadows

Preserve Luminosity: Checked

The result of both those changes:

Next, let's enhance the Brightness/Contrast of the warriors. Make sure that the "Warriors" layer is selected and then go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and then input the following once there:

Brightness: -44

Contrast: -50

The result:

That still isn't good, so let's lower the Brightness/Contrast levels a little further. Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and then input the following once there:

Brightness: -33

Contrast: -17

The result:

Next we will reduce the intensity of their belt's color. To do that, make sure that the "Warriors" layer is selected and then go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation and then once it opens, input the following:

Edit: Reds

Hue: 0

Saturation: -100

Lightness: 0

Step 5: Create the Werewolf Warrior

Now we will be replacing one warrior's head with that of a wolf to make him a flaming-sword wielding werewolf. To start, let us first remove the head of the warrior in black. To do that, activate the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) and then create a selection area around his head. See image below:

When the selection area has been created, just press Delete on your keyboard to erase the head.
The result:

Now that it has been erased, open the stock image: "Wolf 2" by dyet and then activate the Polygonal Lasso Tool (L). Create a selection area around the wolf's head. See image below:

When you're done with the selection area, activate the Move tool (V) and drag the wolf's head to our canvas. Position this layer below the "Warriors" layer.
Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and then rotate the head of our wolf as shown on the image below:

We will then need to reduce the wolf's head color saturation, to do that go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation. Once open, input the following:

Edit: Master

Hue: 0

Saturation: -48

Lightness: 17

The result of that should be similar to this:

Next, we would need to erase the Wolf's head by using the Eraser tool (E) of course. Activate it and then choose the Eraser brush shown below by right-clicking on the canvas and then left-clicking on the brush:

Use the following settings for the Eraser brush (E):

Brush: 10px

Hardness: Default

Opacity: 100%

Flow: 100%

Use a zoom level of 200% on the Navigator window for you to be able to accurately erase.

Now, let's erase:

The result of that should be similar to this:

Next, we would need to use the Brush tool (B) to darken the lower part of the wolf's head. To start, create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Darken" then put this layer above the wolf's head layer. Next, right lick on the "Darken" layer and then left-click on "Create Clipping Mask"

This Clipping mask will clip itself to the wolf-head layer so that the paint applied will only apply to the layer it is clipped on to.
It should appear like this:

Next, activate the Brush tool (B) and then input the following:

Brush size:900 px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 15%

Flow: 100%

#: 000000

Zoom level: 200%

Now, let's paint!

The result of that should be like this:

Step 6: Create the Flaming Sword

In this step, we will add flames to the sword of the werewolf warrior. To start, create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) on top of all the layers that we've created. Name this layer: "Fire 1" and then activate the Brush tool (B) - input the following settings for this tool:
Brush size: 70px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 50%

Flow: 100%

#: ffffe9

Let's start painting then!

The result of the first fire brush should be similar to this:

Next, let's create a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and then name it "Fire 2". Activate the Brush tool (B) and then open the Brush set: "Flame brushes" by sugar breezy. To open that brush set, simply follow the instructions below:

After that click on Load brushes:

Make sure that you've downloaded the brush set on this folder: Adobe > Adobe Photoshop CS2/3/4/5 > Presets > Brushes.
Once the brushes have been loaded, choose the following brush:

Now, your brush is shaped like a flame or flame pattern. Let us now input the following settings for the Brush tool (B):

Brush size: 400px

Hardness: Default

Opacity: 100%

Flow: 100%

#: fffebd

Then, let's now start painting:

The flame's position is a bit awkward so activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and then rotate "Fire 2" on the angle as shown on the image below:

The result of that should be like this:

Next, create another layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and name it "Fire 3". Use the following brush from the "Flame brushes" brush set:

Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

Brush size: 300px

Hardness: Default

Opacity: 100%

Flow: 100%

#: fffdcb

Now, let's paint!

The result:

Next, create another layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and then name it "Fire 4". Activate the Brush tool (B) and then choose the following flame brush:

Now, input the following for the Brush tool (B):

Brush size: 250px

Hardness: Default

Opacity: 75%

Flow: 100%

#: ff9f6b

Let's paint:

Next, activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and then resize "Fire 4" as shown on the image below:

Activate the Transform tool (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and then rotate it as shown on the image below:

The result:

Create a new layer again (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and then name it: "Fire 5". Next, activate the Brush tool (B) and then choose this flame brush:

Next, input the following for the Brush tool (B):

Brush size: 200px

Hardness: Default

Opacity: 75%

Flow: 100%

#: ffc389

The result of those would be like this:

Create another layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and then name it "Fire 6". Activate the Brush tool (B) and then Reset your brushes:

Once the brushes have been set to the default ones, input the following for the Brush tool (B):

Brush size: 200px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 15%

Flow: 100%

#: ffc389

Now, let's paint:

The result of that should be similar to this:

Create another layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and then name this new layer: "Fire 7".
Activate the Brush tool (B) and input the following:

Brush size: 200px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 20%

Flow: 100%

#: ffdd56

The result:

Next, create another layer (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N) and then name it: "Fire 8". Activate the Brush tool (B) and then input the following:

Brush size: 500px

Hardness: 15%

Opacity: 15%

Flow: 100%

#: fffcc8

Now, let's paint:

The result:

Now, create the final layer for our flame brushes and name it "Fire 9". Activate the Brush tool (B) and then input the following:

Brush size: 90px

Hardness: 0%

Opacity: 25%

Flow: 100%

#: fffcc8

The result of that should be similar to this:

Step 7: Enhance the look and feel of our image

Now, we're going to enhance the color and overall brightness of our image. Let's start by creating a Gradient Adjustment layer. To create that, click on the "Create New Fill/Adjustment layer" button.

Now, click on Gradient from the contextual menu of the "Create New Fill/Adjustment layer" button".

After hitting OK, change the Blending Mode and Opacity to the following: